July 2010

ITS Japan News: IT Strategic Headquarters Outlines Road Map for "New IT Strategy"

The IT Strategic Headquarters, headed by the Prime Minister, released a plan with a specific work schedule for implementation of each policy related to the "new IT Strategy" on June 22, 2010. It shows clear targets and lists related ministries in charge of each policy with short and long-term objectives.

Concerning ITS, the IT Strategic Headquarters promotes Safety Driving Support Systems to prevent traffic accidents and Green ITS to realize a low carbon society. In FY2010, the related ministries will set up the appropriate task forces, and prepare corresponding work schedules. A task force will promote road infrastructure deployment and develop the integrated-type of on-board units in FY2010, and promote its deployment in FY2013.

Regarding Green ITS, in FY2010, the taskforce will integrate various probe information in the public/private domain. The effectiveness of using them for traffic congestion mitigation and CO2 emissions will be evaluated by simulation and used for advanced signal control. This will be demonstrated in a field operational test (FOT) in FY2011.

In FY2012, a Green ITS operational model will be established which includes a cost sharing system and a range of data used routinely regarding the collection and delivery of widespread road traffic information. It will be also subject to large scale FOT for evaluating the effectiveness of the real-time database system.

In FY2013, the system will start its operation. It will be promoted widely within Japan and internationally at the 20th ITS World Congress to be held in Tokyo in 2013, with the actual deployment starting in FY2014.